TfL Income (2)

Navin Shah: You have given all small and medium enterprises on TfL property 100 per cent relief from their rent for three months. What is the cost to TfL of this relief?

The Mayor: Coronavirus has had a serious impact on our economy. Transport for London (TfL) took swift action to support hundreds of its small and medium sized business tenants who were particularly hit by the drop in footfall across London. Across the whole portfolio, rent relief was offered at the value of £10million, and was a necessary step to help businesses survive throughout this difficult time.
TfL’s stance was welcomed, amongst others, by the Federation of Small Business and the Guardians of the Arches. It is notable that a number of commercial organisations, having initially said they would maintain rents, ended up following TfL’s lead.

Reinstating air pollution controls

Caroline Russell: When will you: a) reintroduce the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and Congestion Charge, and b) confirm the start date for stricter rules on the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) to control pollution and traffic in London?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) reinstated the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), Low Emission Zone (LEZ) and Congestion Charge on 18 May.
On 9 April, I asked TfL to delay by at least four months the enforcement of a new, stricter emission standard for heavy vehicles through the Low Emission Zone that is due to commence on 26 October 2020. This was to allow the freight industry to focus on its core operations during the coronavirus pandemic and in recognition of the fact that disrupted supply chains have made it more difficult to meet the new standard on time.

Junk Food Advertising Misrepresentations

Andrew Boff: Please list the adverts that have been removed from the tube due to misrepresentation under your junk food advertising ban?

The Mayor: No adverts have been removed due to misrepresentation by advertisers under Transport for London’s (TfL’s) foods high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) restrictions.
However, TfL removed two campaigns from its estate because the products displayed were found not to comply with its HFSS restrictions. Both campaigns were posted as a result of human error and were removed promptly.

TfL Land (2)

Andrew Boff: How many homes were given planning permission on TfL land in the year 2019/20? Please provide a breakdown by site.

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) achieved resolution to grant, subject to discharging conditions, for 1,214 homes in the financial year 2019/20. Over the course of 2019/20, TfL and its partners carried out an extensive programme of community engagement, which culminated in submitting applications for 4,065 homes across 17 sites.
Please see the attached table which shows a breakdown by site of homes with planning permission.

Heathrow Landing Slots

Tony Devenish: A letter in the Evening Standard on 24th March alleged that airlines are flying empty planes into Heathrow to maintain landing slots. Will you urgently write to Heathrow seeking clarity on this?

The Mayor: During March 2020 some airlines operated ‘ghost flights’ in and out of UK airports in order to satisfy the European Commission 80:20 rule, which specifies that airlines must use their slots 80 per cent of the time or risk the slots being reallocated.
In late March the European Commission suspended the 80:20 rule, preventing this wasteful practice and its significant impacts on our environment. This resulted in a sharp decrease in air traffic across the country, including at Heathrow. The 80:20 rule waiver is currently set to continue until 30 June 2020.

Running a Safe Transport Network

Alison Moore: How are you working with our Transport Unions to ensure that both staff and passengers can safely use our transport network in the near future?

The Mayor: Both Transport for London (TfL) and I are absolutely committed to working with the trade unions to ensure the safety and wellbeing of passengers and our colleagues.
TfL’s efforts to step up public transport service levels to make journeys as safe as possible for people who need to use public transport are underpinned by the close working relationships that its management and trade unions have developed and maintained during this crisis. I want to thank all our unions for the constructive way they have responded to this crisis and worked with TfL management.
TfL holds a weekly summit with its Trade Unions, which was introduced to help manage this unprecedented crisis, and which continues to be an important forum for issues and concerns to be shared.
TfL and I will also continue to work alongside the trade unions and the wider transport sector to ensure a consistent and joined-up approach to safety, and that we are able to respond to the challenges we face going forward.
We make sure there are robust plans in place to respond to any changes. The updated Government advice is expected to lead to an increase in the numbers of customers using the network. The Government’s roadmap to recovery also included a welcome reference to face coverings and the travelling public and since then, TfL has made face masks available to all of its frontline employees.
TfL has already taken a range of measures to protect its staff and passengers, some of which were implemented following initial suggestions from trade unions. These have included introducing an enhance cleaning regime, installing hand sanitiser points on the transport network, introducing one-way pedestrian flow across parts of our network and reminding people of the need to stay two metres apart. Additionally, to protect bus drivers, bus operators have covered assault screen holes, advised customers not to sit in seats nearest the driver, implemented central door only boarding on buses and are working with TfL and Unite the Union on further enhancements.

ULEZ and Congestion Charge

Leonie Cooper: Under what circumstances will the ULEZ and Congestion Charge be reinstated?

The Mayor: The Ultra Low Emission Zone and Congestion Charge were reinstated on 18 May to help manage congestion and vehicle emissions as movement restrictions resulting from the coronavirus pandemic are gradually eased.

Impact of suspending the ULEZ and Congestion Charges

Florence Eshalomi MP: Understandably both the ULEZ and Congestion Charges have been suspended during the outbreak. There are concerns that suspending the charges may have been counterintuitive and may have encouraged some drivers to drive within the ULEZ and Congestion Charge zones. What monitoring is in place to support that only essential travel is happening?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) has been continuously monitoring travel patterns throughout the lockdown period. This monitoring helped to inform the decision to reinstate the ULEZ and the Congestion Charge on 18 May.

Motorcycles and the ULEZ

Keith Prince: If and when you decide to reintroduce the ULEZ, given their vital role in facilitating deliveries and their efficient use of roadspace, would the Mayor consider excluding all motorcycles from paying the ULEZ charge for the foreseeable future?

The Mayor: To support a sustainable recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and to continue our commitment to improve air quality in London, Transport for London (TfL) reinstated the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), Low Emission Zone and Congestion Charge on 18 May.
The ULEZ is about reducing emissions – specifically NOx and PM – from vehicles and is not a direct congestion management scheme. The scale of the air pollution crisis in London means that bold action is being taken against all vehicles producing harmful exhaust emissions. There is also emerging scientific evidence that air pollution can increase vulnerability to the most severe impacts of COVID-19. I have been clear that everyone must play their part. Although motorcycles may contribute to a relatively small proportion of London’s total emissions, they can be highly polluting on an individual basis. This is why motorcycles will continue to be included in the ULEZ.
Any motorcycle registered with the DVLA since Euro 3 became mandatory in July 2007 is assumed to be ULEZ compliant and does not require testing. TfL’s monitoring indicates that 97 per cent of ‘L’ type vehicles (most of which are motorcycles) entering the ULEZ are compliant. Despite the lack of Government support, I have ensured eligible Londoners can receive £1,000 if they scrap an older, more polluting motorcycle or mopeds as part of a £48 million scrappage fund.

Living Wage Employers

Susan Hall: How many businesses in London are now Living Wage employers? Please give a breakdown by size of business.

The Mayor: There are over 1900 accredited living wage employers in London. The majority of these are small and medium sized employers. The number of accredited employers has more than doubled since I become Mayor.
The table below provides a breakdown of the accredited employers by size. This information has been provided by the Living Wage Foundation.
Number of employees
Number of accredited Living Wage employers HQ’d in London
> 501
192
251 - 500
82
51 - 250
324
11 - 50
652
< 10
650
Total
1901